What Food Items Freeze Well? Ways to Save Money on Food Leftovers

What Foods Can You Freeze?

There are many foods that freeze well that cooks don’t have to throw out, but can use for later. While not all foods hold up well in the freezer, there are many that do, from meats to vegetables to sauces, to cooked foods and more. Stretching your food budget is especially important in these economic times, so I've compiled a list of items that do freeze just fine, as I have tried them myself.

Meats: Check recommended freezing times for various meats.You can save money—even if you're a single person—by buying ground beef, chicken, and other meats in bulk packages, separating it into smaller portions and freezing it. If you do store meats too long in the freezer, they can get freezer-burnt. However, even freezer-burnt meats (they say) are not dangerous, but they don’t taste as good. If you do find freezer-burnt food,you could cut off the bad parts and cook up the rest as treats for the dog. Chop it up to desired sizes, depending on the size of your dog; put a few in a baggie in the fridge, then freeze the rest. Take out a little at a time to thaw in the fridge. Saves money on expensive dog treats. Tastes better and is probably healthier too!

Vegetables: Cut up and freeze the veggies in your fridge if you think you can’t use them before they go bad. You won’t be able to defrost and use these veggies in salads or other fresh recipes, but you can steam such items as carrots and broccoli. Freeze fresh spinach and cook it later with vinegar, salt, and pepper to make great-tasting spinach! Frozen tomatoes can be put in spaghetti sauce, soups and stews, or other cooked dishes. Never let onions, celery, or bell peppers go to waste. Chop and freeze before they spoil, and use them later in stews, stir-fry, spaghetti, casseroles, and other culinary creations..

Stuff That Freezer with Leftovers!

I think my own freezer may be more packed than this one! | Source

More Foods That Freeze Well

Cream soups, broths: If you just need part of a can of cream of mushroom or other canned soup, freeze the rest and use for another recipe. The soup keeps just fine in the freezer.

Cheese: all kinds of cheeses, including cream cheese and ricotta cheese. The texture may be changed some, but it works. I like freezing block cheeses, as I use them in a lot of casseroles or enchiladas, and the frozen blocks (heated in the microwave a few seconds) grate much more easily, simply falling apart under the grater.

Bread: Buy on sale and thaw when needing to use, even if just a few pieces at a time. Freeze leftover hushpuppies, biscuits, and heat up one or a few at a time, as needed.

Sauces: spaghetti, tomato, and other sauces freeze just fine.

Cooked foods: anything cooked, casseroles, or whatever, if in excess. Freeze and save for later!

Leftover veggies: Keep a freezer bag in the freezer for leftover spoonfuls of veggies such as green beans, peas, carrots, and any other that can be thrown together in a crock pot later for a soup or stew.

These are a number of the foods that I’ve found freeze successfully. As I’m into saving money, I always try freezing something before throwing it out. Try it yourself. Be creative in seeing what you can salvage.

Questions & Answers

Questions must be on-topic, written with proper grammar usage, and understandable to a wide audience.

Good luck, Jools99. I'm making some life changes myself. Conserving and saving wherever I can is part of it. Happy adventure...!

Demas W Jasper

6 years agofrom Today's America and The World Beyond

Once again we have HP's "Related Hubs" in the sidebar some of which have little to do with the topic of the Hub! Others, myself included, have written additional helpful information which could have added to a reader's knowledge on this topic. A misservice to readers and Hubbers?

Jools Hogg

6 years agofrom North-East UK

Great hub. I am making a life change very soon which will mean I will have almost no income so any tips and tricks for cutting costs is great at the moment. I am intending to grow my own vegetables etc. It will be an adventure, that's for sure! Voted up.

homesteadbound--I love your idea about freezing small amounts of leftovers. I do that with veggies, but I forget about meats or grains, especially grains. Great idea. I'm going to start throwing them in together for a later stew. Thanks for sharing that idea, and for commenting on mine!

Cagsil

6 years agofrom USA or America

Hey Vicki, you don't seriously think for a second that I would even contemplate giving away my recipes or technique for cooking the meals I prepare. LOL! Never going to happen. :) But, nice try anyways. :)

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

6 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Thanks, again, for the vote, Cags! You should write some hubs on your recipes. I love steak! And tender chicken--yum! And I've been looking for a good meatloaf recipe. Hub it! :-)

Cagsil

6 years agofrom USA or America

Hey Vicki, am I good cook? Well, if I go by what is said by others? Then I would have to say that yes I am a good cook. I can cook many different foods and I'll only give you a few examples: No one in my family will eat any other meatloaf aside from mine. Whenever I make chicken or turkey? Then there's no need for a knife to cut the pieces because the pieces can be cut with the dull side of a fork. I can cook a steak that is exceptional due to the fact that you could cut through it with either a butter knife or a fork. ;) And, you're welcome for the vote up. It was a very good article. :) :D

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

6 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Cags, are you a good cook? :-) Sounds like you've got things under control at your place I appreciate your comments and voting up!

Cindy Murdoch

6 years agofrom Texas

Great hub. Many pre-cooked meals freeze well especially those that have sauce.

I also like to keep a zip lock bag in the freezer for small amounts of leftovers that I then use to create a stew when I have enough. This could be meats, pasta, grains, veggies, and broths.

Thanks so much for SHARING!

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

6 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Perspy--USDA booklets--I didn't know that. Neat idea. I may see if I can find one of those. Thanks for the helpful comment!

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

6 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

mljdgulley--Great idea about the rice, because I always make too much! I didn't know it froze well, though. Awesome tip.Thanks!

Cagsil

6 years agofrom USA or America

Very good hub Vicki! :) Very helpful. I don't have any issues with the food I store or buy. When I buy my food it is always in somewhat of a bulk package and I separate it, because there's only two people who eat here constantly. I do have my nieces over once a week, but I take out more than I would normally. It's all used up before it would go to waste. I'm working on learning how to prepare meals better so I can cut down on the amount I have as leftovers. LOL! Thank you for sharing. Voted up! :)

Demas W Jasper

6 years agofrom Today's America and The World Beyond

County Extenson Services in many parts of the country, plus USDA booklets have loads of information on this topic, much of it free for the asking. They are also good sources for expert quotes in Hubs, as I found out on this topic. Good to keep this in front of the public and maximize the safe use of our freezers for colorful, nutritious, good textured foods not past their prime.

mljdgulley354

6 years ago

Great hub. I love freezing left overs. It's great to have a quick meal as well as saving money. I make up a big pot of rice and freeze it in baggies to use later. It microwaves well and is quick for breakfasts and recipes that call for rice.

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

7 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Thanks, AmaTainted. I've learned a lot about what freezes well adn what doesn't through trial and error. It sure beats throwing out food if freezing will preserve it. Thanks for reading!

Amanda

7 years agofrom Texas

very useful! thank you so much.

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

7 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Mailxpress, I hope that my hubs are helpful. I do hope to write more hubs about saving money. I took a look at your hubs--look like great topics. I'm going to read more and follow you, too. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

Michelle Cesare

7 years agofrom New York

Great Hub. I am now following you. Keep it up. I feel in this economy writing Hubs about different ways to save money is a hot topic.

Dear Victoria, you are one of the few writers I love to read on hubpages regularly.

AUTHOR

Victoria Lynn

7 years agofrom Arkansas, USA

Thanks, Binaya! I enjoy thinking about and writing about different things. I love creating poetry and reading other great poets (such as you!), but I also have other interests that I like to write about, as well. I like the variety. The topics are limitless, really. Thanks for commenting!

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